The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to secure a historic first-ever term in West Bengal as votes are counted for the state assembly polls held in two phases on April 23 and 29. According to the Election Commission, BJP candidates have won or are leading in over 190 of the state's 294 constituencies, putting the party on course for a landslide victory. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is headed for defeat, ending its 15-year stint in power.
BJP's Turnaround Strategy
The BJP's resurgence began in Haryana, where it overcame a decade of anti-incumbency. In October 2024, the party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as chief minister and won 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, defying predictions of a Congress comeback.
In Maharashtra, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a sweeping victory in October 2024, winning 235 of 288 assembly seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi was reduced to 50 seats. This marked a dramatic recovery from the Lok Sabha elections, where the INDIA bloc had won 30 of Maharashtra's 48 seats.
Delhi and Bihar: Historic Wins
In Delhi, the BJP returned to power after 27 years, ousting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and winning 48 seats in the 70-member assembly. The party had previously won only three seats in 2015 and eight in 2020.
In Bihar, the BJP emerged as the largest party for the first time, overtaking ally JD(U). The NDA alliance won 202 of 243 seats, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan secured just 35. Samrat Choudhary became the state's first BJP chief minister, succeeding Nitish Kumar.
Other State Results
- Tamil Nadu: Vijay's TVK party is leading as a formidable force, pushing DMK and AIADMK to the margins.
- Kerala: The Congress-led alliance is leading in most constituencies.
- Assam: The BJP is leading, set to retain power.
- Puducherry: The AINRC is leading in the union territory.
The results come almost two years after the BJP's Lok Sabha strength dipped to 240 seats from 303. In West Bengal, its parliamentary tally had declined from 18 seats in 2019 to 12 in 2024.
